Disclaimer: I don't own "Community". If I did, Jeff and Annie would be together and Jeff would still be a lawyer, probably kicking Harvey Specter's ass in a courtroom somewhere (I don't own "Suits" either, but if I did this crossover would so be happening).

Author's note: "I'd like to know why I had to find out about this group by accident? " Annie Edison, in Episode 101, "Pilot."

I'm in a sad place after the end of Season 6, so for my first ever published fanfic I'm going back to a happy place with this view of an AU of the first season where that accident didn't happen and Annie doesn't join the study group and has to get through Greendale mostly on her own, but with at least one friend to help her (you all know who it is).

I had no idea what to title this story for the longest time, then one day I was listening to the haunting "Hollow Talk" by the Danish band "Choir of Young Believers" and it all slipped into place.

"Echoes start as a cross in you,

Trembling noises that come to soon.

Spatial movement which seems to you,

Resonating your mask or feud.

Hollow talking and hollow girl,

Force it up from the root of pain.

Never said it was good, never said it was near,

Shadow rises and you are here.

And then you cut;

You cut it out,

And everything

Goes back to the beginning."

Chapter 1 - Introduction to Melancholy

Week 1

Annie Edison arrived at Greendale determined to turn over a new leaf. She was going to do the studying, earn the credits she needed to get the degree that would help put her life plan back on track, but above all she was going to make new friends - friends who had never heard of her past, her time in rehab, of Annie Adderall. Friends who would respect her for her intelligence, her kindness, and her willingness to help.

Yes, today was the first day of the rest of her life. And it started here in Spanish class, her first class of the year. Annie walked into the classroom almost ten minutes early to make sure of getting a seat in the centre of the front row and waited for the rest of her classmates to arrive. When the room was almost full, she took out a folded piece of paper from her binder, opened it and read the message inside again, although she knew it by heart -

Hello,

I'm interested in putting together a Spanish Study Group for people who are interested in helping each other learn and being helped at the same time, and maybe have a bit of fun while doing so! If you are interested in joining such a group, please write your name below mine and pass the paper on.

Thank you very much and I hope to see you soon!

Annie Edison

Annie tapped the elbow of the boy sitting next to her, flashed him a brilliant smile and asked him to read the letter and pass it on round the class. Barely had it gone on it's way than Annie looked up to see the last stragglers arriving through the door. She felt herself go rigid with shock as all the blood drained from her face as she saw just who was arriving.

Troy.

Troy Barnes.

Annie sat upright and pasted a smile on her face as she stared at her high school crush, both hoping and fearing he'd spot her. She saw him stand in the doorway with an easy, confident grin on his face as though giving the room an opportunity to admire him before he sat down. Annie saw his eyes start to scan the room, come to her - and then pass on without the faintest hint of recognition. Annie almost felt something shrivel inside her as he walked past her to take a seat near the back of the room.

"BUENOS DIAS, CHICOS Y CHICAS! I am Senor Chang and I will be teaching you the glories of Espanol!"

This must be the teacher. Annie thought. I hope he knows what he's doing.

Annie settled down to concentrate on the lesson. Even when her Study Group invite returned to her halfway through she put it in her folder and refused to look at it until the end of class to avoid distracting herself. At the end of the lesson, she took out the invitation and opened it, eager to find out who her first friends were going to be.

The paper was blank. No, worse than that - somebody had taken the trouble to draw a unicorn with a - thing - instead of a horn on it, and somebody else had written HA! HA! alongside it. Annie suddenly felt tears start to spring up in the corner of her eyes. She put her head down however and filled up her backpack as slowly as she dared, she was determined to be the last one out of class so nobody would see her cry.

Welcome to the new school, just like the old school. She thought bitterly.

Week 2

Annie was waiting outside the Spanish class gathering her nerves.

I'm going to talk to him today. I'm going to talk to him today. I'm going to talk to him today…

"Hi Annie, what are you doing out here?" Said Joelle, Annie's partner for the conversation homework Chang had set. Annie would have been happier to see her if that hadn't been the longest sentence she had spoken since the homework had been set - Annie had eventually given up and done all the work herself and just handed Joelle a script.

"Oh, just waiting for somebody."

"Umm, okay. Seeya." That was more Joelle's range.

I'm going to talk - "Oh hi Troy!" She put on a big smile and stepped out in front of him.

"Er, hi?" He put a polite smile on his face. "Sorry, but do I know you?"

Annie deflated slightly, but maintained a brave face. "I was at Riverside with you. We did algebra together, remember?"

"Yeeeaaah… there were a lot of kids?..."

"Annie Edison? I had an… accident and had to leave early."

"Annie?" Troy's face suddenly lit up with recognition. "You're Annie Adderall! The last thing I heard you were in rehab! It's so great to see you out and looking so well!" Annie felt the ground open up beneath her and try to swallow her up. The worst thing was, she could see he was completely oblivious of all the onlookers suddenly pointing and giggling and was genuinely happy for her. "Nice to see you Annie." He patted her on the arm then turned and walked into the class. Annie summoned up what dignity she could and followed him in.

"F." Chang pointed at the younger man. "F minus."

Annie along with the rest of the class had watched with growing disbelief as what had supposed to be a 30 second presentation had consumed almost all of the class's hour long slot - she hadn't even got to do hers with Joelle. As she saw the two men get consoled by their friends she had a simple thought -

If that's a study group maybe I had a narrow escape after all.

Then she saw Troy walk up and join the group as they all left together.

Oh.